Mr. George W. Abbey1
M.S. Electrical Engineering, 1959
Fellow in Space Policy, Baker Institute of Rice University
Career Highlights:
2002, AFIT Distinguished Alumni Award Winner
1996 – 2001, Director, Johnson Space Center
1983 ‐ director of the Flight Crew Operations Directorate at Johnson
Space Center (JSC), responsible for all space shuttle flight crews and JSC
aircraft operations. Abbey selected the crews that flew during the early
years of the space shuttle and put America’s first woman in space
when he assigned Sally Ride to the crew of 1983′s STS‐7. Capt Milburn “Mel” G. Apt2 B.S. Engineering Sciences, 1951 Test Pilot Died Sept. 27, 1956 Career Highlights:
The first pilot to achieve Mach 3
Killed as he tested the Bell X‐2 — the world’s fastest plane at the time
At 65,000 feet, the Bell X‐2 reached Mach 3.2 (2,094 mph), making Apt
the first man to fly more than three times the speed of sound
1
Information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Abbey 2
Photo and information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milburn_G._Apt and
Mr. David Barish3
B.S. Aeronautical Engineering, 1948
Developer of the Paraglider
Died Dec. 19, 2009
Career Highlights:
With two other aeronautical engineers, he competed in the early 1960s
to design a parachutelike device that could lower the Apollo space
capsule to earth, gently and on an angle
But in the space race with the Soviet Union, NASA decided in 1964 to
go with an old‐fashioned parachute and accept the bump that came
with the splash when the capsule hit the ocean
One of the competitors, Francis Rogallo, invented the hang glider,
which with its skeletal frame differed from the paragliders designed by
Mr. Barish and Domina Jalbert. Paragliders have no frame connecting
the canopy to the flyer’s harness. That allows them to be more easily
taken by backpack into remote and rocky regions.
After four years as a USAF test pilot, he left the service and became a
consultant to the Air Force and, eventually, to NASA
Colonel Arnold L. Franklin Jr. USAF, Ret4
M.S. Engineering Physics, 1975
Career Highlights:
1994, Honored as an Eagle at the Gathering of the Eagles annual
aviation event celebrating aviation legends
1986, Chief, Middle East, Africa, South Asia Division, Directorate of
Plans and Operations, Headquarters USAF at the Pentagon
1984 ‐ 1986, Commander, 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. In April
1986, as a squadron commander, Franklin led the USAF raid on Libya.
3
Photos and information from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/01/us/01barish.html 4
Dr. Russell M. Genet5
M.S. Logistics Management, 1980
Career Highlights:
Pioneered the world’s first fully robotic observatory, the Fairborn
Observatory on Mt. Hopkins, Arizona and was featured in the PBS
special The Perfect Stargazer
Founded the Orion Observatory in Santa Margarita, California
Established the magazine IAPPP Communications, the first
international astronomical photometry journal
5
Photo and information from http://www.orionobservatory.org/About%20Russ.html,
Lt Col George E. Hardy, USAF, Ret67
M.S. Systems Engineering (Reliability), 1964
B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1957
Former Tuskegee Airman, Sarasota, FL
Career Highlights:
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators
in the United States armed forces
Joined the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group based at
Ramitelli Air Base, Italy in April 1945 at 19 years old. His assigned aircraft was "Tall in the Saddle".
During the closing months of World War II, flew 21 escort and strafing
missions in North American P‐51C and P‐51D Mustangs
After the Air Force desegregated in July 1949, Hardy was reassigned to
the 19th Bomb Group (B‐29s) on Guam. During the Korean War the
19th BG moved to Okinawa and flew bombing missions over Korea.
George flew 45 combat missions over Korea. He was rated as a
Command Pilot in September 1959.
During the Vietnam War Hardy was assigned to the 18th Special
Operations Squadron at Phan Rang AB, Vietnam from April 1970 to
April 1971. He was the Operating Location Commander at Udorn,
Thailand and then as Operating Location Commander at Danang AB,
Vietnam he flew 70 combat missions in AC‐119K Gunships over
Northern Laos and along the Ho Chi Min Trail.
Lt. Col Hardy retired from the Air Force in November 1971. His career
decorations include the DFC with Valor, and the Air Medal with 11 Oak
Leaf Clusters.
6
Photo and information from http://www.examiner.com/aerospace‐in‐tampa‐bay/tuskegee‐airman‐inspires‐at‐winter‐
haven‐library
7 Photo and information from
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=121311285085&set=a.121308450085.136641.121277570085&type=1&thea ter
Donald S. Lopez, USAF, Ret.8 B.S. Aeronautical Engineering, 1956
Deputy Director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum
Died March 3, 2008
Career Highlights:
Lopez had been with the Smithsonian Institution since 1972, when he
became part of the team led by Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins
responsible for planning the construction and opening of the National
Air and Space Museum
As assistant director for Aeronautics, Lopez was instrumental in
developing the exhibits that welcomed visitors during the museum's
opening July 1, 1976 and have made it the most visited museum in the
world
A fighter pilot in the 23rd Fighter Group of the 14th Air Force—
successors of the legendary Flying Tigers—in China where he flew 101
missions and tallied up five victories, the required number to be
recognized as an "Ace."
8
Photo and Information from http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/smithsonians‐national‐air‐and‐space‐museums‐deputy‐
Forty‐eight hours after the
crew of bomber #11 bailed
out, they pose for a picture
after being reunited in a
small Chinese town before
being moved to Chuhsien.
From left are, Sgt. William
Birch, bombardier; Lt. Frank
Kappeler, navigator; Capt.
C. Ross Greening, pilot; Lt.
Ken Reddy, co‐pilot; and
Sgt. Melvin Gardner, engineer/gunner. Lt Col Frank A. Kappeler, USAF, Ret9 B.S. Engineering Sciences, 1947 Doolittle Raider Died June 23, 2010 Career Highlights:
On 18 April 1942, with the Doolittle mission, the United States struck
its first substantial blow against Japan during World War II
Served as navigator aboard the Doolittle Raid mission #11
Bailed out along with his fellow crewmen when their B‐25 bomber
engines stopped 10,000 feet over China. With the help of Chinese
people he escaped capture by Japanese soldiers.
Kappeler served the rest of the war in the European theater,
completing 53 combat missions
9
Lt Macready with
Orville Wright. Wright
verified the records of
Macready’s altitude
flights.
Lieutenant John A. Macready10
Air Service Engineering School, 1923
American test pilot and aviator
Died September 15, 1979
Career Highlights:
Lt Macready was the only three‐time recipient of the Mackay Trophy,
receiving the trophy three consecutive years: once for the altitude
flight of 34,509 feet , once for a transcontinental flight, and once for an
endurance flight of 36 hours, 4 minutes and 32 seconds.
In1921, Lt Macready became the first person to test fly an
experimental aerial application system for spraying pesticides from an
aircraft, flying the world's first "crop duster"
In1924, he became a parachute pioneer as the first pilot to bail out of a
stricken aircraft at night
10
Crew of 4th Aircraft:
Pilot Lt. E.W. Holstrom
Co‐Pilot Lt. L.N. Youngblood Navigator Lt. H.C. McCool Bombardier Sgt. R.J. Stephens Engineer Gunner Cpl. B.M. Jordan Lt Col Harry C. McCool, USAF, Ret11 B.S. Industrial Administration, 1949 Doolittle Raider Died 1 Feb 2003 Career Highlights:
On 18 April 1942, with the Doolittle mission, the United States struck
its first substantial blow against Japan during World War II
Served as navigator aboard the Doolittle Raid mission #4
Shortly after takeoff the rear gunner advised that the turret would not
function, leaving the bomber protected only by a single .30‐caliber
nose‐gun. This became critical as the bomber approached land just
south of Tokyo and was jumped by four Japanese fighter planes. The
pilot ordered his bombs salvoed into Tokyo Bay before racing on to
China. The crew bailed out over land when their fuel was expended.
Lieutenant McCool went on to fly missions in the European Theater.
Decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart with 1
Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Chinese
Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade
Colonel Richard V. Wheeler, USAF, Ret12
B.S. Engineering Sciences, 1948
American test pilot and aviator
Died December 29, 2009
Career Highlights:
In 1950, Capt. Wheeler made a world‐record parachute jump of 42,449
feet (8 miles) at Holloman AFB, N.M. a feat which earned him the
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster
Served as Chief of Parachute Test Section of the Aero Medical and
Equipment Laboratory, which conducted live jump testing of
experimental parachutes in a high altitude bail‐out program
He flew 69 missions; the 33rd mission was part of the "D‐day" invasion
of Normandy in World War II
11
Photo and Information from http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/mccool.htm 12
